{"id":49117,"date":"2026-08-01T15:57:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T13:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/?p=49117"},"modified":"2026-08-01T15:57:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T13:57:39","slug":"mahabat-sadyrbek-kyrgyz-grammar-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/kyrgyzstan\/mahabat-sadyrbek-kyrgyz-grammar-language\/","title":{"rendered":"A Language in Motion: Mahabat Sadyrbek on Teaching Kyrgyz to the English-Speaking World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Linguist and court-certified translator Mahabat Sadyrbek recently published an English-language textbook on Kyrgyz grammar, helping make the language more accessible to international learners. Novastan spoke with her about what teaching Kyrgyz reveals about the language itself – from multilingual slang and regional varieties to culturally untranslatable words, artificial intelligence and the enduring power of the mother tongue.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyrgyz remains comparatively difficult for English-speaking learners to study, with far fewer teaching materials available than for many more widely taught languages. Mahabat Sadyrbek\u2019s Kyrgyz grammar<\/a> textbook in English therefore represents not only a practical learning resource, but also an effort to explain the internal logic and cultural richness of the language to a wider international audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Mahabat Sadyrbek\u2019s Comprehensive Grammar of the Kyrgyz Language<\/em>, an English-language guide to Kyrgyz phonetics, morphology, syntax and grammar. Photo courtesy of Mahabat Sadyrbek.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Building on this work, Novastan asked her how Kyrgyz is changing today, what its words reveal about Kyrgyz society, and what the language needs in order to flourish in the digital age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mathieu Lemoine, Novastan: When you hear young people speaking Kyrgyz in Bishkek today, what sounds completely different from the Kyrgyz spoken by their parents or grandparents? Could you give us some concrete examples?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahabat Sadyrbek<\/strong>: The most noticeable difference is not necessarily grammar, but rhythm, vocabulary and the degree of code-switching. Many young people in Bishkek move effortlessly between Kyrgyz, Russian and, increasingly, English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sentence may have a Kyrgyz grammatical structure while incorporating Russian or English words. One might hear expressions such as \u043c\u0435\u043d \u0430\u043d\u044b \u0431\u043b\u043e\u043a\u0442\u043e\u043f \u0441\u0430\u043b\u0434\u044b\u043c<\/em> – \u201cI blocked him\u201d – or \u043c\u0430\u0433\u0430 \u0441\u043a\u0440\u0438\u043d \u043a\u044b\u043b\u044b\u043f \u0436\u0438\u0431\u0435\u0440\u0447\u0438<\/em> – \u201cSend me a screenshot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What fascinates me as a linguist is how naturally Kyrgyz adapts these borrowed words. A word like \u201cblock\u201d becomes the Kyrgyz verb \u0431\u043b\u043e\u043a\u0442\u043e\u043e<\/em>, which can then take all the usual Kyrgyz grammatical endings. This illustrates the remarkable flexibility of the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many young speakers also use expressions such as \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0436<\/em> – \u201ccringe\u201d, \u0442\u043e\u043a\u0441\u0438\u043a<\/em> – \u201ctoxic\u201d, \u0432\u0430\u0439\u0431<\/em> – \u201cvibe\u201d, \u0433\u0435\u0448\u0442\u0430\u043b\u0442<\/em> – \u201cgestalt\u201d – and \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0442<\/em> – \u201ccontent\u201d. Most of these entered Kyrgyz through Russian-language social media, although they ultimately originate in different languages, most commonly English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The language of my parents and grandparents sounded quite different. Older speakers tended to use more proverbs, indirect expressions and culturally rich vocabulary. When describing a respected person, for example, they might use words and expressions such as \u0434\u0430\u0430\u043d\u044b\u0448\u043c\u0430\u043d<\/em>, \u044d\u043a\u0438 \u0441\u04af\u0439\u043b\u04e9\u0431\u04e9\u0433\u04e9\u043d<\/em>, \u044d\u043b\u0433\u0435-\u0436\u0443\u0440\u0442\u043a\u0430 \u0436\u0443\u0433\u0443\u043c\u0434\u0443\u0443<\/em> or \u0441\u04e9\u0437\u04af \u04e9\u0442\u04af\u043c\u0434\u04af\u04af<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u042d\u043a\u0438 \u0441\u04af\u0439\u043b\u04e9\u0431\u04e9\u0433\u04e9\u043d<\/em> literally describes someone who \u201cdoes not speak twice\u201d: a person who keeps their word. \u042d\u043b\u0433\u0435-\u0436\u0443\u0440\u0442\u043a\u0430 \u0436\u0443\u0433\u0443\u043c\u0434\u0443\u0443<\/em> refers to someone who is well liked and respected within the community, while \u0441\u04e9\u0437\u04af \u04e9\u0442\u04af\u043c\u0434\u04af\u04af<\/em> describes a person whose words carry weight. Each expression highlights a different aspect of wisdom, integrity, social respect or moral character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, this is not simply a story of decline. Languages naturally evolve. The important question is whether new linguistic layers enrich Kyrgyz while preserving its own expressive traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which Kyrgyz words or expressions are becoming less common today, and what is being lost with them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would be cautious about saying that words are disappearing completely. Many traditional expressions are still actively used, especially outside the largest cities. However, some are gradually moving from everyday speech into passive vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Words such as \u043d\u0430\u0440\u043a<\/em>, \u044b\u0437\u0430\u0430\u0442<\/em>, \u043a\u0443\u0442<\/em>, \u0436\u04e9\u0440\u04e9\u043b\u0433\u04e9<\/em>, \u044d\u043d\u0447\u0438<\/em> and \u0430\u0448\u0430\u0440<\/em> represent far more than dictionary definitions. They express cultural concepts that have developed over centuries and remain deeply rooted in Kyrgyz culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take \u043d\u0430\u0440\u043a<\/em>, for example. It refers not only to values or norms, but also to inherited standards of dignity, honour, moral worth and proper conduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, \u044b\u0437\u0430\u0430\u0442<\/em> goes beyond simple respect. It encompasses respectful conduct, courtesy, consideration and appropriate behaviour towards others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u041a\u0443\u0442<\/em> can be described as a life-giving blessing associated with harmony, dignity and well-being. \u0416\u04e9\u0440\u04e9\u043b\u0433\u04e9<\/em> refers to a custom, traditional observance or ritual. \u042d\u043d\u0447\u0438<\/em> describes an inherited portion or personal share traditionally assigned to someone, while \u0430\u0448\u0430\u0440<\/em> is the practice of voluntary collective community work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These concepts reflect cultural values that cannot easily be reduced to single English words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyrgyz kinship terminology provides another example. The language distinguishes relatives with remarkable precision, reflecting social roles and obligations that are often lost when these terms are replaced by broader Russian words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional proverbs are also becoming less common among younger speakers. Earlier generations often expressed criticism or advice indirectly through proverbial language, allowing sensitive ideas to be communicated tactfully and without confrontation. As this tradition weakens, communication may become more direct, but it also loses some of its subtlety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The loss, therefore, is not merely lexical. It concerns cultural memory and ways of understanding social relationships that have shaped Kyrgyz society for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there new Kyrgyz words, slang expressions or ways of speaking that you particularly like? Where do they come from?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One expression I particularly like is \u0416\u0430\u0448\u043e\u043e \u043a\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0435\u0442<\/em> – \u201cLife is wonderful.\u201d It has become especially popular among younger generations. I appreciate its simplicity and optimism. To me, it expresses an outlook on life that encourages gratitude and resilience, even in difficult times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More generally, what I admire most is the linguistic creativity of young Kyrgyz speakers. Rather than simply borrowing international words, they adapt them to Kyrgyz grammar and make them their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyrgyz is an agglutinative language with a highly productive grammatical system that allows borrowed words to be integrated almost effortlessly into native word formation. For example, \u043b\u0430\u0439\u043a<\/em> becomes \u043b\u0430\u0439\u043a\u0442\u043e\u043e<\/em> – \u201cto like\u201d – while \u0431\u043b\u043e\u043a<\/em> becomes \u0431\u043b\u043e\u043a\u0442\u043e\u043e<\/em> – \u201cto block.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One can naturally say \u043b\u0430\u0439\u043a\u0442\u0430\u043f \u043a\u043e\u0439\u0447\u0443<\/em> – \u201cPlease give it a like\u201d – or \u0430\u043d\u044b \u0431\u043b\u043e\u043a\u0442\u043e\u0434\u0443\u043c<\/em> – \u201cI blocked him.\u201d Although the vocabulary may be international, the grammatical structure remains unmistakably Kyrgyz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also welcome the increasing use of native terminology such as \u0441\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0440\u0438\u043f<\/em> – \u201cdigital\u201d, \u0441\u0430\u043d\u0430\u0440\u0438\u043f\u0442\u0435\u0448\u04af\u04af<\/em> – \u201cdigitalisation\u201d – and \u0436\u0430\u0441\u0430\u043b\u043c\u0430 \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u043b\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0442<\/em> – \u201cartificial intelligence.\u201d These examples show that Kyrgyz is fully capable of creating its own terminology for new technologies and contemporary life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Borrowing has always been part of the history of Kyrgyz. Over the centuries, the language has absorbed vocabulary from Arabic, Persian, Mongolian and Russian. What matters is not whether words are borrowed, but whether Kyrgyz remains a language in which people can discuss every aspect of modern life with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How different can Kyrgyz sound from one region to another? Are there words, pronunciations or expressions that immediately reveal where a speaker comes from?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the things I find most fascinating about Kyrgyz is its remarkable regional diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the name of a simple household item can vary considerably. A washing basin, for example, may be called \u0434\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0430<\/em>, \u0442\u0430\u0437\u0438\u043a<\/em>, \u0442\u0430\u0448\u0442\u0435\u043a<\/em>, \u0447\u044b\u043b\u0430\u043f\u0447\u044b\u043d<\/em> or \u0438\u043b\u0435\u0433\u0435\u043d<\/em>, depending on the region. Such differences often allow Kyrgyz speakers to identify someone\u2019s regional background almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pronunciation and intonation differ as well. The speech of Naryn is often regarded as particularly clear and conservative, while speakers from Issyk-Kul, Talas and Osh each have characteristic rhythms and local vocabulary that many Kyrgyz immediately recognise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The broadest distinction is traditionally made between northern and southern varieties. Standard literary Kyrgyz is largely based on northern speech, whereas southern varieties have developed under stronger historical contact with Uzbek and Tajik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, however, regional identity is becoming increasingly fluid. Internal migration, especially to Bishkek, has brought together speakers from every part of the country. As a result, urban Kyrgyz often blends regional features with Russian influence and the language of social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person\u2019s speech may therefore reveal not only where they grew up, but also where they studied, where they worked and the communities with which they identify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there a Kyrgyz word or expression that says something important about Kyrgyz culture but becomes flat or inaccurate when translated into Russian or English?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my favourite examples is \u043a\u0443\u0442<\/em>. It is often translated as \u201cblessing\u201d, \u201cgood fortune\u201d, \u201cgrace\u201d, \u201cluck\u201d or \u201cprosperity\u201d, yet none of these English words fully captures its meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Kyrgyz culture, \u043a\u0443\u0442<\/em> is far more than luck or material prosperity. It refers to a life-giving force that brings harmony, dignity, abundance and spiritual well-being to a person, a family or even a place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It cannot be bought, earned through wealth or measured in material terms. Rather, it represents an inner quality that gives life balance, purpose and meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept is deeply woven into everyday life and language. Kyrgyz people commonly say \u043a\u0443\u0442 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u0441\u0443\u043d<\/em> or \u043a\u0443\u0442\u0442\u0443\u0443 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u0441\u0443\u043d<\/em> to mark almost every important life event: a birthday, moving into a new home, a wedding, the purchase of a new car, a new job or any significant new beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although these expressions are often translated simply as \u201cCongratulations\u201d, they convey something much richer. They express the wish that this new stage of life will be accompanied by \u043a\u0443\u0442<\/em> – that it will bring not only success, but also harmony, well-being and lasting fulfilment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its deeper significance becomes especially clear in the expression \u04af\u0439\u0434\u04af\u043d \u043a\u0443\u0442\u0443<\/em>. Literal translations such as \u201cthe blessing of the house\u201d or \u201cthe luck of the house\u201d fail to convey what the phrase truly expresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It refers to the person whose presence fills a home with warmth, stability and emotional strength. Traditionally, this expression is most often associated with a woman, particularly a mother or grandmother, although it can equally describe anyone whose character, wisdom and care hold a family together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find \u043a\u0443\u0442<\/em> especially fascinating because it illustrates how a single word can preserve an entire worldview. Embedded within it are ideas about family, spirituality, human relationships and social harmony that require several sentences to explain in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also reminds us that translation is rarely a matter of replacing one word with another. Sometimes, it means translating an entire culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Kyrgyz speakers mix Kyrgyz and Russian in the same sentence, is this simply natural bilingual speech, or can it gradually change the structure and vocabulary of Kyrgyz itself?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both are true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For millions of people in Kyrgyzstan, switching between Kyrgyz and Russian is a natural part of everyday communication. Bilingual speakers often alternate between the two languages depending on the topic, the people they are speaking with or the social setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kind of code-switching is common in multilingual societies and should not automatically be viewed as a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, long-term bilingualism can gradually reshape a language. Borrowing vocabulary is a normal part of linguistic development, and Kyrgyz has incorporated words from Arabic, Persian, Mongolian and Russian throughout its history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more important question is whether Kyrgyz remains capable of expressing every aspect of modern life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If fields such as law, medicine, science or information technology continue to function primarily in Russian, speakers may gradually lose the habit of discussing these subjects in Kyrgyz. Russian influence may also extend beyond vocabulary, affecting sentence structure, idiomatic usage and habitual ways of expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than portraying this as a competition between two languages, I see it as a question of balance. Russian remains an important language of education, science and international communication for many Kyrgyz citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge is to ensure that Kyrgyz develops alongside it rather than beneath it. This requires investment in education, terminology, literature, media and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A confident language is not one that fears outside influence. It is one that can absorb new ideas while preserving its own identity and expressive richness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is the most inventive Kyrgyz being produced today: literature, rap, comedy, cinema, social media, television or everyday conversation?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I had to choose just one place, I would say social media without hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is where Kyrgyz evolves most rapidly and where new words and expressions can spread almost overnight. Young people experiment with humour, irony, memes and wordplay in ways that would have been unimaginable only a generation ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of these innovations disappear as quickly as they emerge, while others quietly become part of everyday speech. Creativity, however, is by no means confined to social media. Every medium contributes something different to the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contemporary music, especially rap, has introduced new urban vocabulary and fresh ways of talking about identity, migration, relationships and social change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comedians capture the richness of spoken Kyrgyz through regional accents, code-switching and everyday situations that audiences instantly recognise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Literature serves a different purpose. It preserves depth, nuance and stylistic richness, allowing writers to explore the emotional and philosophical possibilities of Kyrgyz in ways that fast-moving digital communication rarely can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinema occupies a unique place because it brings all these layers together. A good film lets us hear authentic conversations, regional varieties, humour, silence and emotion within the same story. In many ways, it reflects how people actually speak more faithfully than formal television or official media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What excites me most is that Kyrgyz is no longer confined to traditional domains. Today, it thrives in podcasts, YouTube channels, stand-up comedy, rap, independent films and online discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To me, this diversity is one of the clearest signs of a healthy language. A language stays alive when every generation reshapes it while remaining connected to those who came before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which contemporary Kyrgyz writers, poets, musicians, filmmakers, comedians or online creators should foreigners discover if they want to hear the language as it is alive today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any living language, Kyrgyz is shaped by many voices, genres and regional traditions. Anyone who wants to experience Kyrgyz as it is spoken today should explore a wide range of cultural forms rather than searching for a single representative figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In cinema, I would recommend starting with two filmmakers whose work reflects different dimensions of contemporary Kyrgyz culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more on Novastan<\/strong>: Cin\u00e9ma kirghiz : Black Red Yellow, une histoire d\u2019amour contrari\u00e9<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aktan Arym Kubat <\/a>is internationally recognised for his poetic and deeply human films, which capture the rhythm of everyday life, the emotional richness of spoken Kyrgyz and the relationship between people, tradition and landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kyrgyz
Kyrgyz filmmaker Aktan Arym Kubat at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2022. Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson\/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ruslan Akun<\/a>, by contrast, represents a younger generation of filmmakers whose work has reached wide audiences both in Kyrgyzstan and abroad. His films offer an accessible introduction to contemporary Kyrgyz society while presenting the language in a natural, everyday setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone interested in contemporary spoken Kyrgyz should also explore today\u2019s music scene, especially rap. Artists such as Begish<\/a>, Bayastan<\/a> and Ulukmanapo<\/a> demonstrate how the language continues to evolve through music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their lyrics blend traditional linguistic resources with contemporary vocabulary, global influences and the realities of modern urban life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, I would encourage listeners not to overlook Kyrgyz oral traditions. Hearing a skilled manaschy<\/a><\/em>, a performer of the Epic of Manas, reveals another dimension of the language: its rhythm, imagery, formulaic expressions and extraordinary narrative power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A manaschy<\/em>, a traditional performer of the Epic of Manas, in Karakol. Photo: SiGarb\/Wikimedia Commons, public domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although this tradition is centuries old, it remains a vibrant part of Kyrgyz culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would also encourage people to explore Kyrgyz-language podcasts, YouTube channels and independent online creators. They often reflect everyday speech more naturally than formal media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more on Novastan<\/strong>: Manas and the Making of Kyrgyzstan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One YouTube channel I would especially recommend is Tilimpoz<\/a>, as well as Nakta Podcast<\/a>. They explain the meanings, origins and cultural nuances of Kyrgyz words and expressions in an engaging and accessible way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand a language, it is not enough to read its literature or study its grammar. You also need to hear people telling stories, making jokes, arguing, singing and creating. That is where a living language reveals itself most fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Kyrgyz currently speak convincingly about artificial intelligence, medicine, law, sexuality, psychology and other modern subjects, or do speakers often have to switch to Russian or English?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is less whether Kyrgyz can express modern concepts than whether speakers have access to the linguistic resources needed to use it confidently in specialised domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many languages that are expanding their role in education, research and technology, Kyrgyz is still developing consistent terminology in fields such as artificial intelligence, medicine, law and psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal, medical and technical concepts are not always standardised, and many professionals continue to use Russian terminology because that is the language in which they received their education. Switching to Russian is therefore often a matter of habit rather than necessity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artificial intelligence presents both a challenge and an opportunity. What Kyrgyz needs is not only new terminology but also high-quality digital resources: comprehensive dictionaries, terminology databases, language corpora, spell-checkers, speech-recognition tools, machine translation and AI systems trained on reliable Kyrgyz-language data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without such infrastructure, the language risks becoming less visible in the digital world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, I am optimistic. Kyrgyz has a remarkably productive grammatical system that enables it to create new vocabulary while preserving its own linguistic identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout its history, it has successfully adapted to changing cultural, political and technological realities. There is every reason to believe it can do the same in the age of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, the future of Kyrgyz will not be determined by the number of borrowed words it contains. It will depend on whether its use continues to expand across education, research, technology, public administration and scientific communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A language remains strong when it is able to serve every sphere of life, from everyday conversations to academic research and technological innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is one sentence in Kyrgyz that you find especially beautiful, powerful or revealing about the language? Could you write it in Kyrgyz and explain what it means?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is one sentence I return to again and again. I often recite it at the end of my public talks because, more than any other, it expresses how I feel about my native language:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u0411\u0443\u043b \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438\u043d \u04e9\u043b\u0431\u04e9\u0441, \u04e9\u0447\u043f\u04e9\u0441, \u043a\u04e9\u04e9\u043d\u04e9\u0440\u0431\u04e9\u0441 \u044d\u043d\u0435 \u0442\u0438\u043b\u0438\u043c.\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A close English rendering would be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is my immortal, unfading and timeless mother tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet no translation can fully convey the emotional depth of the original. The three adjectives \u04e9\u043b\u0431\u04e9\u0441<\/em>, \u04e9\u0447\u043f\u04e9\u0441<\/em> and \u043a\u04e9\u04e9\u043d\u04e9\u0440\u0431\u04e9\u0441<\/em> are closely related, but each contributes its own shade of meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, they express the idea of a language that endures across generations. It does not disappear, it does not lose its vitality, and it never ceases to matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, these words are far more than a poetic expression. They reflect my relationship with the Kyrgyz language and much of what has shaped my academic work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a linguist and a court-certified translator, I have come to see language not simply as a tool of communication, but as a living repository of history, memory, values and ways of understanding the world that cannot always be carried across into another language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Languages naturally evolve. They borrow words, develop new forms of expression and adapt to changing realities. That is not a sign of weakness, but of vitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as people continue to speak, learn, create, question and dream in Kyrgyz, the language will continue to grow while remaining true to itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why I always return to these words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u0411\u0443\u043b \u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438\u043d \u04e9\u043b\u0431\u04e9\u0441, \u04e9\u0447\u043f\u04e9\u0441, \u043a\u04e9\u04e9\u043d\u04e9\u0440\u0431\u04e9\u0441 \u044d\u043d\u0435 \u0442\u0438\u043b\u0438\u043c.\u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interview conducted and edited by Mathieu Lemoine, Editor-in-Chief of Novastan English. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Linguist and court-certified translator Mahabat Sadyrbek recently published an English-language textbook on Kyrgyz grammar, helping make the language more accessible to international learners. Novastan spoke with her about what teaching Kyrgyz reveals about the language itself – from multilingual slang and regional varieties to culturally untranslatable words, artificial intelligence and the enduring power of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":358,"featured_media":49124,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4670,3,4669],"tags":[4247,2578],"coauthors":[358],"class_list":["post-49117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture-sports","category-kyrgyzstan","category-people","tag-kyrgyz-language","tag-kyrgyzstan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/358"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49117"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49135,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49117\/revisions\/49135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49117"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novastan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=49117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}